Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc

Can you imagine the outcome of condensing a hundred chapters of a manga series (or nearly forty episodes of the original series) into two three-quarter-length movies? A complete and utter failure, you say? Well, damn it, you're absolutely right! The people behind this remake have stripped the main plot of Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc down to its bare bones, omitting numerous elements, making numerous changes, and even recycling some musical motifs from the original anime TV show as if they couldn't even be bothered to create a new soundtrack. On top of that, they've introduced new artwork that, while commendable in its attention to environmental details, completely screws up the character designs. None of the fights left a lasting impression on me, unlike in the TV show. I can't help but wonder who the target audience for these movies was supposed to be. Viewers unfamiliar with the manga or the original series will struggle to make sense of the story, probably only understanding that it revolves around a guy named Kenshin who wants to assist a girl searching for a master somehow connected to a certain Shishio, who is also somehow connected to Kenshin, all while they travel to Kyoto. The rest of the story and narrative would be all Greek to those viewers. On the other hand, those familiar with the manga or anime will spend most of their time facepalming in disbelief at the breakneck pace of the plot, the insensitive editing that cuts scenes short or heavily alters them (and in most cases, for the worse), and the overall incoherence of the movie. Perhaps the only major positive aspect I can point out, in comparison to the original TV show, is a more serious portrayal of the giant Fuji, whose height was greatly exaggerated in the TV adaptation. But what good does that do when we learn nothing substantial about him in these movies other than the fact that he's really tall? So, if you're interested in witnessing a more worthwhile adaptation of Kenshin's story, I recommend opting for the original TV show or the more recent trilogy of live-action movies. (02.01.2015)